'The flu outbreak this year is extremely concerning and needs to be taken seriously.'

February 6, 2018

The winter flu outbreak is putting more than four million asthma patients at risk of a potentially deadly asthma attack, a charity has warned.

Asthma UK urged all patients with the condition to do what they can to prevent colds and flu and to ensure their medications are fully stocked.

The charity said a previous study found that 81% of sufferers say cold and flu viruses can make their condition worse.

This could mean that as many as 4.3 million asthma patients across the UK are at heightened risk of an attack, the charity estimated.

It's worth noting that most people with asthma are eligible for a free flu vaccine. However typical effectiveness of the jab is in the range of 40-60%, meaning people can still get flu.

Dr Andy Whittamore, Asthma UK's clinical lead, said: "The flu outbreak this year is extremely concerning and needs to be taken seriously.

"As many as four in five people with asthma could be at an increased risk of life-threatening asthma attacks if they catch the virus.

"The best way for people with asthma to stay safe this winter is to make sure they take their asthma medicines as prescribed.

"This ensures their airways are less inflamed and sensitive, and will help them to resist the effects of the flu.

"Everyone with asthma should also make sure they are washing their hands regularly to prevent spreading viruses, and look after themselves by eating a varied, balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep."

The United States is in the midst of a particularly rough - and deadly - flu season. According to the latest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current flu outbreak is responsible for at least 53 child deaths so far this season.

High levels of flu-like illness are being reported in 42 states and hospitalizations for flu continue to rise across the country.

The flu is most dangerous for older adults age 65 and over, young children under the age of 5, and people with compromised immune systems. These groups of people are more likely to experience severe or even deadly complications from the flu.

Still, anyone can be affected by the flu and there are steps everyone can take to prevent its spread.

Get a flu shot

The absolute best protection against the flu is to get a flu shot, even though the vaccine is far from foolproof. The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu each year.

Last week, Canadian researchers reported that this year's flu vaccine is less than 20 percent effective against the most dominant strain of the virus. However, experts emphasize that the vaccine still offers some protection and can reduce the severity of illness if you do get infected.

While it is best to get a flu shot before the start of flu season, experts say it's still not too late to get vaccinated if you haven't done so already.

Avoid contact with sick people

People who are sick with the flu can spread the virus to others up to about 6 feet away. Flu spreads mainly by microscopic droplets that go airborne when people who are infected cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can get into the mouths or noses of people nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs, or linger on surfaces nearby.

To avoid getting sick, limit contact with sick people and stay home from work or school if you are ill. Also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as viruses enter the body this way.

Wash your hands frequently

Another important way to avoid getting sick with the flu or other bugs is to "wash your stinking hands," as Florida nurse Katherine Lockler put it in a video that recently went viral. And wash them right: scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, experts recommend humming the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. Don't forget to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Keep your environment clean

While experts believe the flu virus is mostly spread from person to person through droplets in the air, it is also possible to get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching your mouth or nose. Doorknobs, countertops, airplane tray tables, computer keyboards and phones can silently transfer germs from one person to another.

One germy doorknob can infect half your office within hours

To avoid this, clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu. Household items like linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared with others without washing thoroughly first.

Cover coughs and sneezes properly. To avoid spreading germs, avoid coughing and sneezing directly into your hands. Instead, cough or sneeze into a tissue and then immediately throw the tissue away, or else cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.

Wear a face mask when visiting a hospital

Though not 100 percent effective, wearing a surgical mask can help prevent the spread of the flu. Since hospital patients may have an illness that has compromised their immune system, taking steps to protect them from the flu - such as having visitors wear a mask and wash or disinfect their hands whenever they enter the room - is important. Healthy visitors can also benefit from the mask's protection at a time when many hospitals report being swamped with flu patients.

Take antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them

If you get the flu, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug such as Tamiflu to treat it. These prescription medications are different than antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections and don't work against the flu virus.

Antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and shorten the time you are sick, especially if taken soon after symptoms first arise. For people at high risk of complications from the flu - such as those 65 or older, young children, pregnant women, and people with other medical issues - it could mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in hospitalization.

If you are prescribed antiviral drugs, follow your doctor's instructions for taking them.

This year's flu season in the United States is trending worse than the 2009 swine flu pandemic, as evidenced by the number of Americans visiting clinics or emergency rooms and crowding hospital beds and hallways with flu-like symptoms.

The flu season usually frightens those who suffer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - people who have compromised lung function and are at a high risk for getting influenza. But a number of COPD patients in Philadelphia and in other parts of the country who are usually scared of the flu, are less anxious.

They're using advanced mobile technology developed by Philadelphia-based HGE Health and offered through subscriptions paid for by hospitals like Temple Lung Center at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and payers like Health Partners Plans of Philadelphia, coupled with a communications regimen that's keeping them healthier and much less anxious about the flu.

And, therefore, keeping them out of emergency rooms, hospitals and doctor's offices.

"COPD patients in general experience fear and anxiety about breathing every day, 365 days of the year," said Michael J. Markus, PhD., CEO of HGE Health, a healthcare technology company that works worldwide with pulmonary surgeons and physicians. "The flu season usually takes that anxiety to another level. When the flu is prevalent and COPD patients have trouble breathing, they often panic, which leads to heightened anxiety, making it even harder for these patients to breathe. This breathlessness-anxiety-breathlessness cycle drives many patients to the doctor or the hospital more often than needed because they can't distinguish the symptoms of anxiety from the symptoms of COPD. But we've found a way to effectively break that cycle."

Following a decade of clinical research, HGE Health launched a digital telemedicine platform and mobile app that enables physicians to remotely manage patients more closely and make it easy to adjust treatment therapies as new or differing COPD and medical issues arise. With or without the flu.

The technology and process are simple. Pulmonary patients use their smartphone, which securely communicates to the HGE Health platform, to report their daily COPD symptoms to their physician who has the option of making immediate changes in treatment. A prospective, randomized, controlled study found that patients who did this and received same-day treatment experienced more symptom-free days and fewer, typically less severe, exacerbations (a worsening of symptoms) when they do occur.

The easy, quick response by both physician and patient makes all the difference.

"Our technology has enabled patients and physicians to monitor these symptoms daily and change care plans rapidly, addressing medical issues before they get more complicated," Markus explained. "The daily connectivity with physicians, which the HGE Care Plus platform encourages, means better management of symptoms and early warnings on any new symptoms, far less patient anxiety and dramatic decreases in the need for patients to seek other medical help during flu season. Our patients feel reassured that their caregiver is engaged and that any flare-up will be tackled same-day. It keeps patients in a better state of mind and health and out of the hospital, meaning lower medical costs for everyone."

Al Grog is a douchebag period...now he is trying to tell us doctors save lives when the opposite is the truth...don't let facts get in the way of a doom mongeing story groggy...now you undestanding why you are called a quack moron?
----

Death Rates Drop When Doctors Go on Strike

Most people believe that doctors save far more than they harm, and that any doctor-induced injuries are usually minor. However, there is plenty of evidence that shows otherwise. In the year 2000, doctors in Israel decided to go on strike; demanding increases in pay. Before long, morticians began to notice a bizarre trend.

The longer the doctors' strike continued, the more the death rate fell. In some locations, the death rate dropped by an astounding 50%. Unfortunately, the doctors eventually stopped their strike, and the mortality rates returned to normal again. This same thing had happened in Israel previously, almost twenty years earlier.

“There definitely is a connection between the doctors' sanctions and fewer deaths. We saw the same thing in 1983 [when the Israel Medical Association applied sanctions for four and a half months].”

— Meir Adler, manager of the Shamgar Funeral Parlour

This would be easy to dismiss as sub-standard Israeli medicine if this phenomena were restricted to just that part of the world, but similar results were seen in 1976, in Los Angeles, when doctors went on strike for just one month. The death rate quickly decreased by 18%. These shocking statistics have since been studied, and it is official; doctors are killing people.

There are, of course, rationalizations for the reductions in mortality, but they are poor. During the strikes, emergency care was always ongoing, whilst elective (unnecessary) surgeries ground to a halt. This is one of the main explanations for the lowered mortality rates during doctor's strikes, and the lack of deaths by pharmaceuticals has been ignored.

A 2008 review published in the Social Science & Medicine journal analyzed five separate incidents in which doctor strikes led to decreased mortality. They also attempted to blame the lack of elective surgeries, but in the end, they were forced to admit that "the literature suggests that reductions in mortality may result from these strikes". So, the best way to reduce deaths in this country may be to fire the doctors.

Along with cancer and circulatory disease doctors and nurses are one of our top three killers; they kill far more people than infections, road accidents, terrorists and criminals put together.

Doctors and nurses now almost certainly kill more people than cancer. Dr Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA, unpopular with the drug industry controlled medical establishment, is recognised as having issued a greater number of accurate warnings and predictions about health risks than any other doctor.

This book explains why doctors and nurses are so deadly, why most medical research is useless, why original thinking is suppressed and how and why hospital staff have betrayed their patients.

"The living terror of the British medical establishment." - Irish Times

Grief Counselors To Be On Hand At Elementary School After 8-Year-Old Queens Girl Dies From Flu

February 6, 2018

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP)

Grief counselors will be on hand at an elementary school Tuesday after an 8-year-old girl from Queens died from the flu.

Neighbors at the Lefrak City apartments are sending their condolences to the family of 8-year-old Amely Baez, who died at 6:30 a.m. Monday after being hospitalized with trouble breathing just one day earlier.

"I'm so sorry," said neighbor Patrick Chadwick. "My heart goes out to the family and everybody, you know. It's a shame."

"I'm kind of overwhelmed with fear because I myself haven't taken the flu shot, so now it's definitely urgent,"said neighbor Kymberley Walcott.

She is one of two children from New York City who have died this flu season. The second death was described as a pediatric patient, but officials gave no other details.

Overall, there have been nearly 37,000 lab-confirmed flu cases over the past eight weeks in New York state, with more than 9,300 people requiring hospitalization.

In December, a 4-year-old New Jersey girl died from the flu. The in January, 10-year-old Connecticut boy Nico Mallozzi died from complications of the flu after attending a hockey tournament in Buffalo.

The Centers for Disease Control reports so far this year, the nation has seen 53 pediatric deaths. That figure will likely rise, as more cases are reported.

Last season, there were 106 influenza-associated pediatric deaths nationally, including six pediatric flu deaths in New York City.

CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez says there is still time and a need to be vaccinated.

"There are plenty of young, healthy people who died from the flu so it's not safe playing that kind of roulette," he said.

Parents, who understand there are still risks, are doing all they can to guard against the virus.

"She got the flu shot, but I heard many people who got the flu shot still get the flu," said parent Antionette Millien. "So you just gotta be extra cautious about germs and infections going around. My suggestion, don't send your child back to school if they're not fully well."

Health officials say it's not too late to get the flu shot, especially for children.

Health officials say it's not too late to get the flu shot, especially for children.

And this is exactly what hasbara rat groogy wants with his stupid jew fear mongering....wants you to line up at the nearest death mechant, the doctor to be poisoned with jew concoctions....the jews have a very long history of poisoning the goyim...and hasbara rat jew groogy is just doing the jew thing, trying to poison you

Algeria has announced the death of 19 people from the virus,"H1N1'' known as swine flu since mid-January.

The Algerian news agency quoted a medical official in Algeria, Dr. Fawzi Drar, as saying that the spread of the disease peaked in last January and has started to decline since the beginning of this month.

Deadly Swine flu has killed 28 people and infected 109 in the restive Kashmir Valley this fall so far.

"28 deaths have been reported so far in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar. A total 137 cases were registered in the institute out of which 107 were discharged. Two patients are still admitted and being treated by the doctors", said Bali Bhagat, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Health and Medical Education.

Kashmir is experiencing bone-chilling cold with temperatures plummeting to sub zero level. Coupled with the dry spell, the conditions are apt for the H1N1 virus to mutate in the valley.

"Every effort is being made by the Government to provide requisite facilities to deal with the swine flu," said Bhagat.

Minister said a full-fledged H1N1 testing laboratory along with separate ward has been constructed at the cost of Rs 9.88 crore at Chest Diseases Hospital Srinagar which has been made functional.

"Swine Flu testing lab in the department of Microbiology in GMC Jammu has also been dedicated for H1N1 testing. Testing facility is also available at Microbiology Department of Govt Medical College Srinagar," he said

As a preventive measure, isolation wards have been established in the Government Medical College, Jammu and Srinagar and equipped with central oxygen, air suction supply and ventilator.

"Separate trained staff is also deployed round the clock. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are provided to all the healthcare workers who are at the risk of exposure," he said.

On the other side, doctors have pressed alarm button cautioning people against the rampant use of antibiotics which can aggravate the problem and create drug resistant viruses.

GPs in Birmingham are still reporting very high numbers of consultations for flu-like symptoms.

Based on the rate of consultations compared to previous years, GPs in Birmingham, Solihull and Walsall were reporting that rates in the week to January 28 were very high, with high rates in Sandwell and Dudley and medium rates in Wolverhampton.

Consultation rates in the area have increased since the first week of the year, when medium rates were seen across the area, except in Dudley where they were low and Wolverhampton where there were less than five cases.

Based on community surveillance, outbreaks of flu are continuing in the Midlands and East of England, and numbers are up on last year.

There were 56 new acute respiratory outbreaks reported in the region in the week to January 28, similar numbers to the previous two weeks, when there was 57 and 54 respectively.

The number in the week to January 28, was more than twice the 22 reported in the same week in 2017, and up from six in the same week in 2016 and 24 in 2015.

The past six weeks have seen 282 acute respiratory outbreaks in places like care homes, hospitals and schools in the region, compared to 214 reported during the same period last year.

The Midlands and East of England is still seeing very high rates of hospital admissions due to flu, with around seven per 100,000 people in the week to January 28, although the rate has fallen slightly from the previous week.

Based on GP consultation rates for influenza-like illnesses, flu in England is still at medium activity rates, with 52.1 consultations per 100,000 people in week 04 compared to 54.1 per 100,000 in week 03.

By age group, the highest rates were seen in 45-64 year olds (65.5 per 100,000) and 15-44 year olds (52.8 per 100,000).

Across England, 173 new acute respiratory outbreaks have been reported in week to January 28 compared to 229 in the previous week.

Of these 33 outbreaks tested positive for influenza A(unknown subtype), while 45 tested positive for influenza B, and two were a mix of both types.

Influenza is caused by a virus, which was first identified in 1933. There are two main types that cause infection, influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A is usually a more severe infection than influenza B.

The influenza virus is antigenically unstable and new strains and variants are constantly emerging. Each year one or two subtypes of influenza A may be in circulation and one type of influenza B.

Internet-based surveillance of influenza-like illness in the general population is undertaken through the FluSurvey, a project run jointly by PHE and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The overall ILI rate (all age groups) for week 04 was 71.2 per 1,000 (233/3,271 people reported at least 1 ILI) (Figure 3) compared to 81.5 per 1,000 in week 03.

In the week to January 28, there were 177 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza reported across the UK. A total of 30 deaths were reported to have occurred in the week to January 21 in the UK.

Since the week ending October 8 (week 40), a total of 1,552 new admissions and 193 confirmed deaths have been reported in the UK.

In England these admissions were at a rate of 0.39 per 100,000 compared to 0.53 per 100,000 in the previous week for England data, this is above the high impact threshold of 0.31 per 100,000.

In the week to January 28, there were 757 hospitalised confirmed influenza cases reported from 21 NHS Trusts across England, with a rate of 7.66 per 100,000 compared to 8.25 per 100,000 in the previous week, this is above the very high impact threshold of 4.20 per 100,000.

A total of 4,618 hospitalised confirmed influenza admissions have been reported since week 40.

So if you are still really ill after seven days, it is a good indication of something more serious.

Aussie flu can lead to pneumonia and other potentially fatal complications.

This year's flu vaccine has been developed to tackle the main strains which are circulating this season, including H3N2.

A number of strains of the virus, but particularly H3N2, led to Australia's worst flu season for nearly a decade.

The arrival of so-called Aussie flu comes as NHS England urged hospitals to defer pre-planned operations and routine outpatient appointments until the end of the month.

A subtype of influenza A, the bug mainly affects older people, those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and children.

As flu viruses are constantly mutating, vaccines to protect against the disease have to change each season.

People are asked to take particular caution to spreading germs by washing their hands more often, covering their mouths and noses when they cough, and cleaning surfaces.

Dr Jillian Johnston told the BBC: "Getting the free flu vaccine is the single most important thing you can do to help protect yourself against flu.

"With high levels of flu activity in Australia during their winter, and the potential for similar here, it is more important than ever that everyone who is eligible gets vaccinated.

"We are fortunate to have a more comprehensive flu vaccination programme than Australia or England, but the benefits can only be realised if a high proportion of the groups who can get the vaccine actually take up the offer."

Dad speaks out over Aussie flu hell - 'My eyes felt like they were in a vice'

'Japanese' flu which is contracted and spread particularly by children has caused experts to urge parents to take up free jabs.

Yamagata flu is less severe but more contagious than Aussie flu.

Experts say this is because very young children are 'super shedders', meaning they excrete more of the virus because their immune systems can't distinguish between what makes them ill and what will kill them.

As a result, children produce a stronger 'transmission' of the flu.

Unlike H3N2, protection against Yamagata is not included in the vaccine for over-65s or vulnerable patients, such as those with diabetes or respiratory disease.

Yamagata is a category 'B' strain of flu. Complications are less common and most people will recover within a week.

This means it's less serious than Aussie strain, which is a category 'A'.

(Image: cyano66)

This is how you can avoid Aussie flu and protect yourself from deadly bug

It has been reported that around one quarter of NHS staff will contract flu during an average winter period.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that figures suggest around half will not show symptoms, which means they could remain in work and spread infections.

Warnings come after a study by Imperial College London which found every 10 per cent increase in NHS vaccination rates was linked with a 10 per cent fall in sickness absence.

What is the difference between flu and a cold?

The symptoms may be similar to a common cold, but flu tends to be more severe.

Flu tends to come on in a few hours, makes you feel exhausted and affects more than the nose and throat alone.

It can also lead to much more serious complications like pneumonia.

ow can you protect yourself?

Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

The flu vaccine is the best protection we have, though flu strains change so it needs to be done every year.

The flu jab is offered free to adults at risk, over-65s, pregnant women and children at risk aged six months to two years old, and a spray is offered to children up to four.

You can have the jab at your GP and some pharmacies - and it's still not too late to do so. Even though it's best to get vaccinated as soon as the flu vaccine is available, getting the vaccine later can still be helpful.

Even as late as January, there are still a few months left in the flu season, so it's still a good idea to get protected.

Serious side effects of the vaccine are rare.

Anyone can help prevent the virus from spreading by washing their hands regularly, covering their mouth and nose with tissues or a sleeve when they cough or sneeze, and cleaning surfaces they suspect are infected.

An evangelical adviser for President Trump said flu shots are unnecessary because you can "inoculate yourself with the word of God."

Gloria Copeland, who started Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Texas with her husband, said the faithful can just hold off the flu bug by repeating: "I'll never have the flu. I'll never have the flu."

"Well, listen, partners, we don't have a flu season," she said in a video posted on the ministries' Facebook page last week. "And don't receive it when somebody threatens you with, 'Everybody's getting the flu.' We've already had our shot: He bore our sicknesses and carried our diseases. That's what we stand on."

And for those who are already fighting with the flu, Copeland ordered the bug out.

"Flu, I bind you off of the people in the name of Jesus," she said, "Jesus himself gave us the flu shot. He redeemed us from the curse of flu, and we receive it and we take it, and we are healed by his strifes, amen."

Health experts have warned that this flu season is the worst since the swine-flu pandemic in 2009.

?

An 8-year-old girl from Queens died on Monday from the flu, ?the second child fatality in New York City in a week.

At least 19 states have reported at least one pediatric death from the flu this season.